PM2.5-induced cellular senescence drives brown adipose tissue impairment in middle-aged mice.

Airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is closely associated with metabolic disturbance, in which brown adipose tissue (BAT) is one of the main contributing organs. However, knowledge of the phenotype and mechanism of PM2.5 exposure-impaired BAT is quite limited. In the study, male C57BL/6 mice at three different life phases (young, adult, and middle-aged) were simultaneously exposed to concentrated ambient PM2.5 or filtered air for 8 weeks using a whole-body inhalational exposure system. H&E staining and high-resolution respirometry were used to assess the size of adipocytes and mitochondrial function. Transcriptomics was performed to determine the differentially expressed genes in BAT. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining, and immunoblots were performed to verify the transcriptomics and explore the mechanism for BAT mitochondrial dysfunction. Firstly, PM2.5 exposure caused altered BAT morphology and mitochondrial dysfunction in middle-aged but not young or adult mice. Furthermore, PM2.5 exposure increased cellular senescence in BAT of middle-aged mice, accompanied by cell cycle arrest, impaired DNA replication, and inhibited AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, PM2.5 exposure disrupted apoptosis and autophagy homeostasis in BAT of middle-aged mice. Therefore, BAT in middle-aged mice was more vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure, and the cellular senescence-initiated apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be the mechanism of PM2.5 exposure-induced BAT impairment.

Phthalate and DINCH exposure and ovarian reserve markers among women seeking infertility care.

Phthalate exposure can adversely impact ovarian reserve, yet investigation on the influence of its alternative substance, the non-phthalate plasticizer diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), on ovarian reserve is very sparce. We aimed to investigate the associations of phthalate and DINCH exposure as well as their combined mixture with ovarian reserve. This present study included 657 women seeking infertility care in Jiangsu, China (2015-2018). Urine samples during enrollment prior to infertility treatment were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to quantify 17 phthalate metabolites and 3 DINCH metabolites. Multivariate linear regression models, Poisson regression models and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were performed to access the associations of 17 urinary phthalate metabolites and 3 DINCH metabolites with ovarian reserve markers, including antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). We found that the most conventional phthalates metabolites (DMP, DnBP, DiBP, DBP and DEHP) were inversely associated with AFC, and the DINCH metabolites were positively associated with serum FSH levels. The WQS index of phthalate and DINCH mixtures was inversely associated with AFC (% change = -8.56, 95 % CI: -12.63, -4.31) and positively associated with FSH levels (% change =7.71, 95 % CI: 0.21, 15.78). Our findings suggest that exposure to environmental levels of phthalate and DINCH mixtures is inversely associated with ovarian reserve.

Gestational exposure to PM2.5 disrupts fetal development by suppressing placental trophoblast syncytialization via progranulin/mTOR signaling.

Recent epidemiological and animal studies have indicated that ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during pregnancy is closely associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be revealed. In this study, we found that gestational exposure to PM2.5 significantly decreased fetal weight and crown-rump length in mice, accompanied by insufficient placental trophoblast syncytialization and increased expression of progranulin (PGRN) in mice placenta. Administering PGRN neutralizing antibody to pregnant mice alleviated growth restriction and insufficient placental trophoblast syncytialization caused by PM2.5, accompanied with suppressed activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vitro experiments using human placental BeWo cells showed that 10 µg·mL-1 PM2.5 activated PGRN/mTOR signaling and suppressed forskolin-induced cell fusion, which was blocked by knockdown of PGRN. Taken together, our results demonstrated that PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy inhibited placental trophoblast syncytialization by activating PGRN/mTOR signaling, leading to abnormal placental development and IUGR. This study reveals a novel mechanism underlying the developmental toxicity of PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy.

Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid, a perfluorooctanoic acid alternative, induces cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish embryos.

As an increasingly used alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) has been widely detected in global water environments. However, little is known regarding its toxic effects on cardiovascular development. Here, zebrafish embryos were treated with egg water containing 0, 60, 120, or 240 mg/L HFPO-TA. Results showed that HFPO-TA treatment led to a significant reduction in both larval survival percentage and heart rate. Furthermore, HFPO-TA exposure caused severe pericardial edema and elongation of the sinus venous to bulbus arteriosus distance (SV-BA) in Tg (myl7: GFP) transgenic larvae, disrupting the expression of genes involved in heart development and thus causing abnormal heart looping. Obvious sprouting angiogenesis was observed in the 120 and 240 mg/L exposed Tg (fli: GFP) transgenic larvae. HFPO-TA treatment also impacted the mRNA levels of genes involved in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway and embryonic vascular development. HFPO-TA exposure significantly decreased erythrocyte number in Tg (gata1: DsRed) transgenic embryos and influenced gene expression associated with the heme metabolism pathway. HFPO-TA also induced oxidative stress and altered the transcriptional levels of genes related to cell cycle and apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation while promoting apoptosis. Therefore, HFPO-TA exposure may induce abnormal development of the cardiovascular and hematopoietic systems in zebrafish embryos, suggesting it may not be a suitable or safe alternative for PFOA.

A Chinese longitudinal maternity cohort study (2013-2021) on intrahepatic cholestasis phenotypes: Risk associations from environmental exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is an idiopathic disease that occurs during mid-to-late pregnancy and is associated with various adverse pregnancy outcomes, including intrauterine fetal demise. However, since the underlying cause of ICP remains unclear, there is an ongoing debate on the phenotyping criteria used in the diagnostic process. Here, we identified single- and multi-symptomatic ICP (ICP-S and ICP-M) in 104,221 Chinese females from the ZEBRA maternity cohort, with the objective of exploring the risk implications of the two phenotypes on pregnancy outcomes and from environmental exposures. We employed multivariate binary logistic regression to estimate confounder-adjusted odds ratios and found that ICP-M was more strongly associated with preterm birth and low birth weight compared to ICP-S. Throughout pregnancy, incremental exposure to PM2.5, O3, and greenness could alter ICP risks by 17.3%, 12.5%, and -2.3%, respectively, with more substantial associations observed with ICP-M than with ICP-S. The major scientific advancements lie in the elucidation of synergistic risk interactions between pollutants and the protective antagonistic effects of greenness, as well as highlighting the risk impact of preconceptional environmental exposures. Our study, conducted in the context of the "three-child policy" in China, provides epidemiological evidence for policy-making to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.

Predicting multiple linear stapler firings in double stapling technique with an MRI-based deep-learning model.

Multiple linear stapler firings is a risk factor for anastomotic leakage (AL) in laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) using double stapling technique (DST) anastomosis. In this study, our objective was to establish the risk factors for ≥ 3 linear stapler firings, and to create and validate a predictive model for ≥ 3 linear stapler firings in laparoscopic LAR using DST anastomosis. We retrospectively enrolled 328 mid-low rectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic LAR using DST anastomosis. With a split ratio of 4:1, patients were randomly divided into 2 sets: the training set (n = 260) and the testing set (n = 68). A clinical predictive model of ≥ 3 linear stapler firings was constructed by binary logistic regression. Based on three-dimensional convolutional networks, we built an image model using only magnetic resonance (MR) images segmented by Mask region-based convolutional neural network, and an integrated model based on both MR images and clinical variables. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and Youden index were calculated for each model. And the three models were validated by an independent cohort of 128 patients. There were 17.7% (58/328) patients received ≥ 3 linear stapler firings. Tumor size ≥ 5 cm (odds ratio (OR) = 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-5.60, p = 0.021) and preoperative carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) level > 5 ng/mL [OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.20-4.04, p = 0.011] were independent risk factors associated with ≥ 3 linear stapler firings. The integrated model (AUC = 0.88, accuracy = 94.1%) performed better on predicting ≥ 3 linear stapler firings than the clinical model (AUC = 0.72, accuracy = 86.7%) and the image model (AUC = 0.81, accuracy = 91.2%). Similarly, in the validation set, the integrated model (AUC = 0.84, accuracy = 93.8%) performed better than the clinical model (AUC = 0.65, accuracy = 65.6%) and the image model (AUC = 0.75, accuracy = 92.1%). Our deep-learning model based on pelvic MR can help predict the high-risk population with ≥ 3 linear stapler firings in laparoscopic LAR using DST anastomosis. This model might assist in determining preoperatively the anastomotic technique for mid-low rectal cancer patients.

A quick and reliable image-based AI algorithm for evaluating cellular senescence of gastric organoids.

OBJECTIVE: Organoids are a powerful tool with broad application prospects in biomedicine. Notably, they provide alternatives to animal models for testing potential drugs before clinical trials. However, the number of passages for which organoids maintain cellular vitality ex vivo remains unclear. METHODS: Herein, we constructed 55 gastric organoids from 35 individuals, serially passaged the organoids, and captured microscopic images for phenotypic evaluation. Senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-Gal), cell diameter in suspension, and gene expression reflecting cell cycle regulation were examined. The YOLOv3 object detection algorithm integrated with a convolutional block attention module (CBAM) was used to evaluate organoid vitality. RESULTS: SA-ß-Gal staining intensity; single-cell diameter; and expression of p15, p16, p21, CCNA2, CCNE2, and LMNB1 reflected the progression of aging in organoids during passaging. The CBAM-YOLOv3 algorithm precisely evaluated aging organoids on the basis of organoid average diameter, organoid number, and number × diameter, and the findings positively correlated with SA-ß-Gal staining and single-cell diameter. Organoids derived from normal gastric mucosa had limited passaging ability (passages 1-5), before aging, whereas tumor organoids showed unlimited passaging potential for more than 45 passages (511 days) without showing clear senescence. CONCLUSIONS: Given the lack of indicators for evaluating organoid growth status, we established a reliable approach for integrated analysis of phenotypic parameters that uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to indicate organoid vitality. This method enables precise evaluation of organoid status in biomedical studies and monitoring of living biobanks.

Is Pathologic Complete Response a Good Predictor for the Long-Term, Clinical Outcome in Patients with Gastric Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy? A Retrospective, Multi-institution Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have used pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) as the primary endpoint for the short-term efficacy in gastric cancer, but whether it is a good indicator for overall survival is poorly understood. METHODS: This study reviewed a multi-institution database of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and achieved pCR after NAC. Cox regression models were used to identify clinicopathologic predictors of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Survival curves were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by means of the log-rank test. RESULTS: OS and DFS in patients with pCR were significantly higher than in those with non-pCR (both P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis confirmed pCR was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS (P = 0.009 and P = 0.002 for OS and DFS, respectively). However, the survival benefit for pCR was present only for ypN0 tumors (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001 for OS and DFS, respectively), and OS (P = 0.292) and DFS (P = 0.285) among patients with ypN+ gastric cancer could not be stratified by pCR. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, pCR is an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS, but the survival benefit for pCR is present only for ypN0 tumors but not ypN+ tumors.

Surgeons' mental distress and risks after severe complications following radical gastrectomy in China: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate incidences of surgeons' mental distress following severe complications after radical gastrectomy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 1 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 among Chinese general and/or gastrointestinal surgeons who experienced severe complications after radical gastrectomy. The clinical features collected in the questionnaire included: (i) feeling burnout, anxiety, or depression; (ii) avoiding radical gastrectomy or feeling stress, slowing down the process during radical gastrectomy operations; (iii) having physical reactions, including heart pounding, trouble breathing, or sweating while recalling; (iv) having urges to quit being a surgeon; (v) taking psychiatric medications; and (vi) seeking psychological counselling. Analyses were performed to identify risk factors of severe mental distress, which was defined as meeting three or more of the above-mentioned clinical features. RESULTS: A total of 1062 valid questionnaires were received. The survey showed that most of the participating surgeons (69.02%) had at least one clinical feature of mental distress following severe complications after radical gastrectomy, and more than 25% of the surgeons suffered from severe mental distress. Surgeons from non-university affiliated hospitals, the junior surgeons, and existing violent doctor-patient conflicts were recognized as independent risk factors for surgeons' severe mental distress related to the severe complications after radical gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: About 70% of surgeons had mental health problems following severe complications after radical gastrectomy, and more than 25% of the surgeons suffered from severe mental distress. More strategies and policies are needed to improve the mental well-being of these surgeons after such incidences.

Exploring the role of pyroptosis in shaping the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer by bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have shown that pyroptosis plays a non-negligible role in the development and treatment of tumors. However, the mechanism of pyroptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the role of pyroptosis in CRC. METHODS: A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analyses. Based on this model, pyroptosis-related risk scores (PRS) of CRC samples with OS time > 0 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were calculated. The abundance of immune cells in CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) was predicted by single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Then, the responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy were predicted by pRRophetic algorithm, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) and SubMap algorithms, respectively. Moreover, the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP) and PRISM Repurposing dataset (PRISM) were used to explore novel drug treatment strategies of CRC. Finally, we investigated pyroptosis-related genes in the level of single-cell and validated the expression levels of these genes between normal and CRC cell lines by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Survival analysis showed that CRC samples with low PRS had better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). CRC samples with low PRS had higher immune-related gene expression and immune cell infiltration than those with high PRS. Besides, CRC samples with low PRS were more likely to benefit from 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. In novel drug prediction, some compounds such as C6-ceramide and noretynodrel, were inferred as potential drugs for CRC with different PRS. Single-cell analysis revealed pyroptosis-related genes were highly expressed in tumor cells. RT-qPCR also demonstrated different expression levels of these genes between normal and CRC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive investigation of the role of pyroptosis in CRC at the bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) levels, advances our understanding of CRC characteristics, and guides more effective treatment regimens.

Intra-abdominal fat volume estimation by multi-detector rows computed tomography: relevance in surgical fellowship training program in Shanghai: a retrospective study.

Background: Intra-abdominal fat volume (IFV) has been shown to have a negative impact on surgical outcomes in gastric cancer (GC) and other gastrointestinal surgeries. The purpose of this study is to look into the relationship between IFV and perioperative outcomes in GC patients using multi-detector rows computed tomography (MDCT) and assess the importance of implementing this observation in current surgical fellowship training programs. Methods: Patients with GC who underwent open D2 gastrectomy between May 2015 and September 2017 were included in the study. Based on MDCT estimation, patients were divided into high IFV (IFV ≥ 3,000 ml) and low IFV (IFV < 3,000 ml) groups. Perioperative outcomes for cancer staging, type of gastrectomy, intraoperative blood loss (IBL), anastomotic leakage, and hospital stay were compared between the two groups. This study was registered as CTR2200059886. Results: Out of 226 patients, 54 had early gastric carcinoma (EGC), while 172 had advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC). There were 64 patients in the high IFV group and 162 in the low IFV group. The high IFV group had significantly higher IBL mean values (p = 0.008). Therefore, having a high IFV was a risk factor for the occurrence of perioperative complications (p = 0.008). Conclusions: High IFV estimated by MDCT prior to GC surgery was associated with increased IBL and postoperative complications. Incorporating this CT-IFV estimation into surgical fellowship programs may aid aspiring surgeons in selecting patients during independent practice in their learning curve and surgical practice for the most appropriate approach for treating GC patients.

Bile acid metabolism disorder mediates hepatotoxicity of Nafion by-product 2 and perfluorooctane sulfonate in male PPARα-KO mice.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Nafion by-product 2 (H-PFMO2OSA) induce hepatotoxicity in male mice via activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) pathway; however, accumulating evidence suggests that PPARα-independent pathways also play a vital role in hepatotoxicity after exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Thus, to assess the hepatotoxicity of PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA more comprehensively, adult male wild-type (WT) and PPARα knockout (PPARα-KO) mice were exposed to PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA (1 or 5 mg/kg/d) for 28 d via oral gavage. Results showed that although elevations in alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were alleviated in PPARα-KO mice, liver injury, including liver enlargement and necrosis, was still observed after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA exposure. Liver transcriptome analysis identified fewer differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the PPARα-KO mice than in the WT mice, but more DEGs associated with the bile acid secretion pathway after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA treatment. Total bile acid content in the liver was increased in the 1 and 5 mg/kg/d PFOS-exposed and 5 mg/kg/d H-PFMO2OSA-exposed PPARα-KO mice. Furthermore, in PPARα-KO mice, proteins showing changes in transcription and translation levels after PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA exposure were involved in the synthesis, transportation, reabsorption, and excretion of bile acids. Thus, exposure to PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA in male PPARα-KO mice may disturb bile acid metabolism, which is not under the control of PPARα.

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in early pregnancy, risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, potential pathways, and influencing factors in pregnant women: A nested case-control study.

Although previous studies have reported an association between maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, results have been inconsistent. Few studies have focused on the combined effects of emerging and legacy PFASs on glucose homeostasis while humans are always exposed to multiple PFASs simultaneously. Moreover, the potential pathways by which PFAS exposure induces GDM are unclear. A total of 295 GDM cases and 295 controls were enrolled from a prospective cohort of 2700 pregnant women in Shanghai, China. In total, 16 PFASs were determined in maternal spot serum samples in early pregnancy. We used conditional logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to examine individual and joint effects of PFAS exposure on GDM risk and oral glucose tolerance test outcomes. The mediating effects of maternal serum biochemical parameters, including thyroid and liver function were further assessed. Maternal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure was associated with an increased risk of GDM (odds ratio (OR) = 1.68; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.10, 2.57), consistent with higher concentrations in GDM cases than controls. Based on mediation analysis, an increase in the free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio partially explained the effect of this association. For continuous glycemic outcomes, positive associations were observed between several PFASs and 1-h and 2-h glucose levels. In BKMR, PFAS mixture exposure showed a positive trend with GDM incidence, although the CIs were wide. These associations were more pronounced among women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Mixed PFAS congeners may affect glucose homeostasis by increasing 1-h glucose levels, with perfluorononanoic acid found to be a main contributor. Exposure to PFASs was associated with increased risk of GDM and disturbance in glucose homeostasis, especially in normal weight women. The PFAS-associated disruption of maternal thyroid function may alter glucose homeostasis.

Infrapyloric (No. 206) and greater curvature (No. 204) lymph node metastasis in adenocarcinoma located in the right half of the transverse colon (InCLART Study): protocol for a multicentre prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: In the case of right-sided transverse colon cancer (RTCC) and hepatic flexure colon cancer (HFCC), there is a potential connection of lymph drainage between mesentery and greater omentum. However, most previous reports have been limited case series with No. 206 and No. 204 lymph node (LN) dissection for RTCC and HFCC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The InCLART Study is a prospective observational study aiming to enrol 427 patients with RTCC and HFCC treated at 21 high-volume institutions in China. The prevalence of infrapyloric (No. 206) and greater curvature (No. 204) LN metastasis and short-term outcomes will be investigated in a consecutive series of patients with T2 or deeper invasion RTCC or HFCC, following the principle of complete mesocolic excision with central vascular ligation. Primary endpoints were performed to identify the prevalence of No. 206 and No. 204 LN metastasis. Secondary analyses will be used to estimate prognostic outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative complications, the consistency of preoperative evaluation and postoperative pathological results of LN metastasis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for the study has been granted by the Ruijin Hospital Ethics Committee (approval number: 2019-081) and has been or will be approved successively by each participating centre's Research Ethics Board. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03936530; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03936530).

Magnetic resonance imaging-based deep learning model to predict multiple firings in double-stapled colorectal anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple linear stapler firings during double stapling technique (DST) after laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) are associated with an increased risk of anastomotic leakage (AL). However, it is difficult to predict preoperatively the need for multiple linear stapler cartridges during DST anastomosis. AIM: To develop a deep learning model to predict multiple firings during DST anastomosis based on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We collected 9476 MR images from 328 mid-low rectal cancer patients undergoing LAR with DST anastomosis, which were randomly divided into a training set (n = 260) and testing set (n = 68). Binary logistic regression was adopted to create a clinical model using six factors. The sequence of fast spin-echo T2-weighted MRI of the entire pelvis was segmented and analyzed. Pure-image and clinical-image integrated deep learning models were constructed using the mask region-based convolutional neural network segmentation tool and three-dimensional convolutional networks. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for each model. RESULTS: The prevalence of ≥ 3 linear stapler cartridges was 17.7% (58/328). The prevalence of AL was statistically significantly higher in patients with ≥ 3 cartridges compared to those with ≤ 2 cartridges (25.0% vs 11.8%, P = 0.018). Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level > 5 ng/mL (OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.08-4.12, P = 0.028) and tumor size ≥ 5 cm (OR = 3.57, 95%CI 1.61-7.89, P = 0.002) were recognized as independent risk factors for use of ≥ 3 linear stapler cartridges. Diagnostic performance was better with the integrated model (accuracy = 94.1%, PPV = 87.5%, and AUC = 0.88) compared with the clinical model (accuracy = 86.7%, PPV = 38.9%, and AUC = 0.72) and the image model (accuracy = 91.2%, PPV = 83.3%, and AUC = 0.81). CONCLUSION: MRI-based deep learning model can predict the use of ≥ 3 linear stapler cartridges during DST anastomosis in laparoscopic LAR surgery. This model might help determine the best anastomosis strategy by avoiding DST when there is a high probability of the need for ≥ 3 linear stapler cartridges.

Preference matters: Knowledge of beneficiary's preference influences children's evaluations of the act of leaving a choice for others.

People value indirect prosocial actions that benefit others as byproducts of self-oriented actions. One example of such an action is the act of leaving a choice for others when selecting an item for oneself. In this study, we investigated how knowledge of the beneficiary's preference may influence children's evaluations of such actions. Children (n = 91, 4- to 10-year-olds) and adults (n = 43) were asked to evaluate characters taking a snack for themselves from a set of three items-two identical items and one unique item-in a way that either leaves a choice (two different items) or leaves no choice (two identical items) for the next person (the beneficiary). The beneficiary's preference was systematically manipulated as unknown, preferring the unique item, or preferring the item of which there are two. We found notable developmental changes: Children as young as 4 years of age understand that it is nicer not to take away the only thing others prefer; with age, children increasingly appreciate the value of leaving a diverse choice when the beneficiary's preference is unknown; however, when the beneficiary clearly prefers the item of which there are two, children increasingly think that it is nicer to leave two identical but preferred items than to leave a diverse choice. These findings reveal increasing flexibility and subtlety in children's social evaluation of indirect prosocial actions; their evaluation develops from a mere understanding of the value of preference to a flexible appreciation of both preference and choice.

Association of phthalate exposure with low birth weight in couples conceiving naturally or via assisted reproductive technology in a prospective birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the adverse effects of preconception phthalate (PAE) exposure on birth weight in couples receiving assisted reproductive technology (ART) compared to naturally conceived newborns. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between parental preconception/prenatal urinary phthalate exposure and low birth weight (LBW) risk in couples who conceived using ART or naturally. METHODS: From the Jiangsu Birth Cohort Study (China), we recruited 544 couples who conceived after infertility treatment and 940 couples who conceived naturally and gave birth to a singleton infant between November 2014 and December 2019. Seventeen metabolites of phthalate and three metabolites of phthalate alternatives were analyzed in parental spot urine samples. Clinical data were collected from medical records. We used generalized linear models, elastic net regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and quantile-based g-computation to examine the individual and joint effects of parental phthalate exposure on birth weight and LBW risk ratios (RR). RESULTS: The relationship between parental phthalate exposure and birth weight was consistent between ART and natural conception. Maternal exposure to mono-ethyl phthalate and mono-carboxyisooctyl phthalate was associated with an increased risk of LBW in ART-conceived infants (RR = 1.27; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.56; and RR = 1.31; 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.67, respectively). In contrast, in the spontaneously conceived infants, higher paternal prenatal concentrations of mono-benzyl phthalate and mono-carboxyisononyl phthalate were associated with a 40 % and 53 % increase in LBW risk, respectively. Exposure to PAE mixtures was associated with LBW in ART-conceived infants, with the effects primarily driven by di-ethyl phthalate, benzylbutyl phthalate, and di-isononyl phthalate metabolites. Sex-specific LBW was observed, with females appearing to be more susceptible than males. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal preconception and paternal prenatal exposure to phthalates were associated with increased risk of LBW in infants. Compared with natural conception, ART-conceived fetuses were more sensitive to PAE mixtures, which requires further attention.

Benchmark for establishment of organoids from gastrointestinal epithelium and cancer based on available consumables and reagents.

Gastrointestinal cancers are a public health problem that threatens the lives of human being. A good experimental model is a powerful tool to promote the uncovering pathogenesis and establish novel treatment methods. High-quality biomedical research requires experimental models to recapitulate the physiological and pathological states of their parental tissues as much as possible. Organoids are such experimental models. Organoids refer to small organ-like cellular clusters formed by the expansion and passaging of living tissues in 3D culture medium in vitro. Organoids are highly similar to the original tissues in terms of cellular composition, cell functions, and genomic profiling. Organoids have many advantages, such as short preparation cycles, long-term storage based on cryopreservation, and reusability. In recent years, researchers carried out the establishment of organoids from gastrointestinal mucosa and cancer tissues, and accumulated valuable experiences. In order to promote effective usage and further development of organoid-related technologies in the research of gastrointestinal diseases, this study proposes a benchmark based on utilization of available experimental consumables and reagents, which are involved in the key steps such as collection and pretreatment of biospecimen, organoid construction, organoid cryopreservation and recovery, growth status evaluation, and organoid quality control. We believe that the standard for the construction and preservation of organoids derived from human gastrointestinal epithelium and cancer tissues can provide an important reference for the majority of scientific researchers.